I have been very busy over the past few weeks speaking in lot's and lot's of schools. Schools are one of my favourite places to speak because the students have so much potential shining out of them, they really are the next generation and they should be motivated and inspired to do their best! However, I have noticed that one particular part of my talk seems to capture their imagination, this is the part where I talk about the creative mind when approaching life.

The story I tell them is funny and sweet, but illustrates perfectly my point of cultivating a limitless, creatively free approach to life -

When I was two, before I received my first prosthetic leg, I used to have an issue in getting around. To get from A to B I would have to be carried and this would prove very frustrating for independent little me. However, even at the age of two I started to show an ingenious approach to my environment. You see, I saw my big brother riding on his skateboard . . .

Suffice to say, his skateboard soon became mine! I had discovered a creative means of getting from A to B. I could sit or lay (my favourite) on the skateboard and push myself along. Problem solved!

This creative thinking has only developed further as I have gotten older. I look at a potential problem and I don't think "nope, can't do it," I think "okay, how can I adapt myself or the environment to achieve this outcome." In keeping ones mind open to possibilities one goes on to live a rather full life!! It is this that I hope to have gotten across to the kids I have spoken to - and they seemed to get a kick out of the image of a two year old, limb deficient girl pushing herself around on a light blue skateboard (with funky red wheels) to get from that A to B.

BUT, just because you are an adult, and not a kid, doesn't mean you also can't embrace your ingenious, creative mind. We all have one, it's just a matter of, do you access it, or do you let it lay dormant. Wake it up peeps!! Get those creative juices flowing, don't let obstacles prevent you from achieving you goals (dreams, targets, time). Problems really are just creative opportunities waiting to be tackled!